Ofsted denies its inspection contributed to death of headteacher Ruth Perry

Ofsted has denied its inspection of Caversham Primary School contributed to the death of its headteacher.

Ruth Perry took her own life in January, two months after inspectors visited her school in Reading.

The Ofsted report had downgraded the school from the highest rating of outstanding to the lowest, inadequate, over safeguarding concerns.

The school was re-inspected last month and received a ‘good’ rating across all areas.

Ms Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, previously said the headteacher had experienced the ‘worst days of her life’ after Ofsted inspectors reviewed the school.

A pre-inquest review was held at Reading Town Hall today.

Ahead of the review, Ms Perry’s family said they hope the inquest will prevent other avoidable deaths, sparing loved ones the ‘excruciating pain’ they have suffered.

Bilal Rawat, the solicitor representing Ofsted, told the hearing: ‘The position of Ofsted is that the inspection that was conducted revealed serious safeguarding concerns and that informed the judgment.

‘We want to be very clear about we don’t accept the suggestion that it was the fact of the inspection that contributed to or affected Ms Perry’s mental health or the manner in which done, it was what was found.

‘It is the question of whether it’s the fact of the inspection or what the inspection revealed that is relevant.’

Senior coroner Heidi Connor said she would not be investigating the ‘minutiae’ of Ofsted’s inner workings and inspection process.

But she added: ‘I have indicated the scope will include the Ofsted inspection and matters that flowed from that with regard to Ruth.

‘I am of course aware that there has been in recent times an announcement of a parliamentary committee inquiry into Ofsted and I have reminded myself of the terms of reference for that inquiry.

‘That inquiry and this inquest are entirely separate procedure focussing on entirely different evidence.

‘I have, it’s fair to say, had quite a lot of members of the public writing to me about Ruth’s case and I do think that some of the correspondence I’ve had was better addressed to the inquiry.’

There is set to be a further pre-inquest review on October 27 before the full inquest begins on December 4.

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